Under the direction of NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), Airborne Systems (formerly Irvin Aerospace) designed the airbags and selected Warwick to supply the material.

The material must withstand both the loads of inflation and the loads imparted as the vehicle lands and slides to a stop. The combined vertical and horizontal kinetic energy dissipated by the bags is roughly equivalent to that of three Hummer H2 vehicles traveling at 30 mph!

Using the strength specification provided by Airborne Systems, Warwick determined the yarn, weave, and coating processes that would produce the required strength while minimizing the weight of the material. The material both retains the inflation gas and provides for the structural integrity of the bags.